Outrageous Galway student accommodation price hike requires urgent action
- Student Accommodation Crisis Reaches Breaking Point
Labour’s further and higher education Spokesperson Senator Annie Hoey today condemns the alarming decision by Hubble student accommodation at Cuirt na Coiribe in Galway to raise their prices by almost 30%. This move comes at a critical juncture as the number of students dropping out of college surpasses pre-pandemic levels, exacerbating the already dire situation of affordable student housing scarcity.
Senator Hoey said
“My office is inundated with students and parents contacting me about the lack of affordable student accommodation available. Students have long been at the coal face of the rental crisis with many paying exorbitant amounts for accommodation while trying to get their qualification.
“Unfortunately for far too many students there simply isn’t decent and affordable housing available. The student accommodation crisis is as bad as ever. Many students are facing a year of torturous commutes, the prospect of having to live in overcrowded or substandard accommodation, or the prospect of dropping out of college altogether.
“Minister Harris truly has his head in the sand when it comes to the student accommodation crisis. We’ve seen year after year, the lack of Government action to tackle this crisis.
“In Labour’s alternative Budget we proposed an annual commitment of €100m in capital investment to deliver real affordable student accommodation alongside significant cost of living increases in student grants and support. For far too many young people now higher education is being increasingly unaffordable, limiting their choices and options in what courses they can pursue.
“With the rising costs of student accommodation pushing the boundaries of affordability beyond reach, Government must immediately intervene in the student accommodation crisis and ensure that what happened in Galway doesn’t happen elsewhere. It is imperative that decisive action is taken to alleviate the burden on students and ensure that access to education remains equitable and attainable for all.”